These animals may be seen hauled out on off shore rocks, and occasionally on sandy beaches. Look closely at their head and you will notice small ear flaps and long dog-like noses. New Zealand examples are the New Zealand fur seal and New Zealand sea lion. Expectant moms congregate at the same rookeries, usually beaches, where they were born. They have no external ear flaps, just ear holes. Like harbor seals, elephant seals lack ear flaps and move on land by flopping along on the belly. The average dive lasts less than 10 minutes and is relatively shallow, less than 300 feet. 866.338.7227 | 80 Garden Court #106 Monterey, CA 93940 Site is maintained by the Point Lobos Foundation ©2018 Site designed by Forest Design LLC. The California Sea Lion as pictured […] When the hunt for food leads them to species desired by humans, such as salmon, fishermen sometimes consider the sea lions as competition. But this was something different entirely. Fur seals, actually in the sea lion group, having extremely long hind flippers. Crescent City, CA Pinnipeds divide their time between near shore terrestrial habitats and the ocean. Harbor seals donât migrate far from home. The sea lions at Point Lobos are mostly adult males and juveniles of both sexes. Under the EPBC Act all seals and sea lions occurring within Australian waters are listed as marine species (EPBC Act 1999; section 248). This is the southernmost breeding area for the species. The awkward movement on land is in sharp contrast to their excellent adaptation underwater. New Zealand examples include the leopard seal and southern elephant seal. Adult males leave our central coast in early summer headed for the Channel Islands in southern California or for Mexico. They return to land to give birth and nurse their young. The seal gets its name from its great size and the large proboscis of the adult males, which is used to make extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating season. Look for the blue jackets to find a docent. They can rotate under the sea lion's body and support it, enabling the sea lion to "walk" with the flippers on land. The group of marine mammals consisting of seals, sea lions, and walruses is known as the Pinnipeds, (from "pinna" meaning "feather" + "pes" meaning "foot" = "feather-footed"). Look carefully and you will find many seals here year round. All together the Sea Lion Island population seems to be pretty healthy. Sand flipping is another clue. Since the 1960's, the population of Steller sea lions has declined by at least 50%. The adult male, with its large elongated nose, is enormous at over 2 tons and up to 16 feet; females are significantly smaller. Sea Otters . The flipper is raised to help warm or cool the body - called thermoregulation. Two species inhabit the sanctuary, the elephant seal and harbor seal. It breeds on subantarctic islands and is the largest of all pinnipeds, with males reaching 2-4 t and females almost 1 t. An adult male’s blubber can be 10 cm thick and in commercial sealing days one individual could yield up to 400 L of oil. They spend 80% of their life at sea foraging, only coming ashore to molt (shed hair and skin) and to mate for adults, or to rest for subadults. In and around Redwood National and State Parks, the most commonly seen eared seal is the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). This completely flips the whole stereotype that seals are only lunch for sharks on its head, although you probably won’t see a sea lion eating a great white shark. Adult males are enormous – at least six times larger than polar bears and nearly twice the size of the next largest seal (the northern elephant seal). Longer and deeper dives are possible. Unfortunately seals canât out-swim their only predators - sharks and orcas. Visit one of the rookeries during the winter birthing and breeding season for an amazing nature experience. Fur seals, actually in the sea lion group, having extremely long hind flippers. It is an offence to kill, injure, take, trade, keep, or move any member of a listed marine species on Australian Government land or in Commonwealth waters without a permit.Where these animals occur in state jurisdictions relevant state legislation applies. Of Steller sea lions share adaptations for living in the ocean might include a weaned... Are nocturnal hunters a variety of shades from white or silver-gray to dark brown similarly to lions! Appearance, true seals are smaller than seals and sea otters are smaller than seals and sea share... Unfortunately seals canât out-swim their only natural predators are orcas and great sharks! Land using their large flippers and rotating hind flippers enabling them to âwalkâ on is. 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